Real Madrid aims to bounce back from their recent 5-2 loss to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final with the help of a three-game home streak, reports AP.
The sequence of matches begins on Thursday with a Copa del Rey last-16 clash against Celta Vigo, followed by a La Liga fixture against Las Palmas on Sunday and a Champions League encounter with Salzburg on 22 January.
Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior banned for two matches after red card
Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti expressed disappointment over the loss but emphasised the importance of looking ahead. “We are sad and disappointed,” Ancelotti said. “We must focus on regaining the momentum we had before this match against Barcelona.”
Before the defeat, Madrid had won five consecutive matches across all competitions. However, Barcelona has consistently been a challenging opponent, also defeating Madrid 4-0 at the Santiago Bernabéu in October during La Liga.
Midfielder Luka Modrić urged the team to rally together and respond positively. “We need to stick together and react as we did after losing to them in La Liga,” Modrić said. “It’s tough to see your biggest rival score nine goals across two matches, but I’m confident we’ll recover. There’s still a long season ahead, and we’ll give our fans plenty to celebrate.”
Currently, Madrid sits second in La Liga, one point behind Atlético Madrid and five points ahead of third-placed Barcelona at the halfway mark of the season. In the Champions League, they rank 20th in the 36-team league phase.
Ancelotti will face additional challenges, including the absence of Vinícius Júnior for the Las Palmas game due to a red-card suspension, which the club failed to overturn on appeal. Defensive issues also persist, with injuries to players like Éder Militão and Dani Carvajal forcing makeshift solutions, particularly at right back. Ancelotti hinted at potential signings during the transfer window to address these vulnerabilities.
Injured Mbappé to travel with Real Madrid to Qatar with hopes of playing Intercontinental Cup final
Reflecting on the Super Cup loss, Ancelotti acknowledged defensive lapses. “We didn’t defend well, and it cost us. They scored too easily,” he said.
Meanwhile, Copa del Rey matches are in full swing. Barcelona hosts Real Betis on Wednesday, aiming to build on their three-match winning streak this year under Hansi Flick. On the same day, Atlético Madrid, currently on a club-record 14-game winning streak, visits second-division Elche. Defending champions Athletic Bilbao will play Osasuna on Thursday, while Real Sociedad hosts Rayo Vallecano.